From Holden:

B-list flak Trent Duffy headlined a brief gaggle aboard Air Force One yesterday in which we learned that for the Bush assministration hope is still a plan.

Q Will he talk about the Iraqi constitution efforts at all?

MR. DUFFY: Yes. He’ll talk about how we’re hopeful that the Iraqis will continue to make process on their constitution. We’ve seen the news reports, and the President is monitoring the developments there closely. He’s been briefed on them this morning by his national security team. Dr. Crouch is on board, who provided the briefing. So, obviously, he speaks at approximately — I think it’s 9:00 p.m. Baghdad time. So we’re monitoring the events very closely, and very hopeful that they will have a constitution.

Q Who was —

MR. DUFFY: Dr. J.D. Crouch is his Deputy National Security Advisor.

Q Why are you hopeful that they will have a constitution? Because last I checked, there was still a lot of disagreements.

MR. DUFFY: Well, we’re hopeful. They’re still working. The Kurds, the Sunnis, the Shia are all there. They’re gathered and they are working hard. The United States embassy is involved and is assisting, at their request. And that’s where things stand. We’re hopeful, and they’re still at the table.

As usual, their hopes failed to bear fruit.

The head of Iraq’s constitutional committee said Tuesday he did not think the three additional days lawmakers said are needed to reach a compromise on the draft charter would be enough.